Page 49 of The Boss I Can't Stand
“Thanks,” Sierra said. “I, uh…yeah…maybe I will.” But instead of stopping to work, she snatched the corset from where she’d left it and walked right out the door.
18
SIERRA
“Do you want your subpar coffee grounds?” Finn asked, holding the package out to me as we worked through our morning routine, side-by-side, in the kitchen. It had taken a couple weeks of awkwardly knocking elbows, but as long as I promised not to disrupt the organizational structure of the fridge, we’d reached a point where our morning routines were usually pretty seamless.
“They’re not subpar,” I said, giving him a flat look.
He barked a laugh. “Pretty sure you buy them from a gas station.”
“Yes, because they’re cheaper there.” Who didn’t love a deal?
Lips pursed, he arched his eyebrows. “And have you ever asked yourself why?”
“Oh my God, they’re not expired,” I complained, rolling my eyes. “Theydon’texpire.”
“They do go stale, though,” he said. “And when that happens, they smell like burnt toast when you brew them.”
“That’s how I like them,” I muttered, reaching for the package as he snorted out another laugh. Our hands brushed momentarily, and heat spiraled through me. I turned away quickly, busying myself with my coffee machine.
Since that day in his sculpture studio a couple weeks ago, since that fierykiss, my entire body reacted every time he touched me. Finn, on the other hand…Well, he didn’t seem all that bothered, making me wonder over and over again if that kiss had only been a big deal inmymind.
Maybe kissing people randomly was just what Hollywood bigshots did without even thinking twice about it. Or maybe it was some strategy on his part, to make me more comfortable with the idea of public affection? Honestly, I had no idea what he meant by it, since he hadn’t said so much as a word about it.
“Can you toss me the protein powder?”
I forced my expression into something neutral, something pleasant, and turned around with the tub of vanilla protein powder and handed it to him.
“Want some?” he asked, gesturing to the blender.
“Of that vile smoothie you drink every morning?” I teased, wrinkling my nose. “No, thank you. I can smell the green from here.”
“The green is good for you.” He pulsed the blender until the drink ran smooth.
“Jury’s still out on that.”
“Excuse me for trying to offset all that RevX you drink,” he said, pouring his smoothie into a glass before reaching down to give the clingy Lord Meowington a rub behind the ears.
I’d walked in on him this morning giving his highness what looked like a sponge bath. As hobbies and pets went, Finn sure knew how to pick them.
I shook my head, reaching for the pack of muffins on the counter. “You’d need more than a green smoothie to do that.”
He crossed his arms, leaning against the counter and eyeing me over the top of his glass. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
I shook my head, a small grin on my face as I opened the muffin pack, picking out a blueberry one. My favorite muffins had started showing up about a week ago. I usually kept a pack in the kitchenette at work.
Finn had told me to add anything I liked to the grocery list, but I’d never gotten around to it. There’s no way the housekeeper could have known that unless Finn had noticed and told her to buy it. I was trying not to think too hard about what that meant.
My phone buzzed where I’d left it on the island. Finn leaned forward, glancing at the call display. “Uh-oh,Mom. I’m gonna tell her you’re drinking energy drinks for breakfast.”
I took a quick sip from my mug. “I’m actually not, but nice try.”
“Don’t even pretend you’re not going to crack one open the moment you get to the costume shop.”
He had me there. “Shush,” I said, answering the phone. He grinned. A real, non-perfect, non-plastic Finn Lockhart grin. Sensation spiraled through me, coiling in my lower belly. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey! Am I catching you at work?” she asked.
